Electric lamp



(No Model.)

'H. O. SAMPLE 8x1. RABL.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 248,111. Patented Oct. 11,1881.

ATTEST. W141 "1' 5 INVENTORS I N. PETERS. ywminhu m mr, waxhingmn, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. SAMPLE AND FRANZ RABL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,111, dated October11, 1881,

' Application filed February 14, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

and FRANZ RABL, both of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specificaj tion.

locating the same under the carbon-operatic g tion of the armature to take place more rapidly and positively; further, in a poised armature to operate the positive carbon, said armature being poised between two electro-magnets; further, in providing a. conductingd'ol lower to follow the point of the descending carbon; further, in the construction of the clamping device for the lower carbon, whereby the same may be clamped and adjusted entirely from the outside; further, in so constructing the lamp that it can be readily changed from a traveling light to a center light, and vice versa, all of which is morefully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

Heretofore in lamps of this class in which the upper or positive carbon is automatically fed downward by gravity governed by the force of the electro-magnet, which, in turn, is controlled by the condition of the voltaic are, one of the great defects lay in the fact that the moment the distance between the two poles'of the carbons became too great for the passage of the current the armature actuating the upper carbon did not free it sufficiently in the short period of time required to prevent flickering.

In alllamps heretofore constructed the-lower or negative carbon has been secured inside the the lamp, and in many cases required the removal of the globe, and in, no case have they been constructed so that a fresh carbon point could be inserted, adjusted, and clamped from the outside of the lamp.

Another objection to the lampsof this class has been that there was as much as from five Be it known that we, HENRY O. SAMPLE (5) to twenty (20) ohms difference in the re- 5 sistance-a most objectionable feature to traveling light lampsand this is caused by the varying lengths of carbon, due to disintegration in burning, over which the electric our- 3 rent has to pass to reach the electrode, the Our invention has reference to electriclamps in which the luminosity is effected by the vol- 2 taic are, and in which the carbons are fed in a vertical direction and it consistsiu providing a second electro-magnet or shunt-magnet and positive carbon, and from the negative electrode to the metal frame. Endeavors have been made to overcome this by plating the carbons, b,ut.this-,is not satisfactory, owing to the fact that the coatin gis never perfect. In lamps as-heretofore constructed ithas been impossible armature, said electro-magnet or shunt being Q continuallytraversed byacurrent of electricity for the purpose of causing the downward acto change them-from traveling light to a center light without the removal, substitution, and addition of many parts, and in no case have they been made that the change could be made by any novice or a person unacquainted with the theory of the electric lamp by simply following a few directions and without materially changing the construction of said lamp.

It has been our object to overcome all of the above objectionable features in lamps of this class, and the manner in which we accomplish this result will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the armature to operate the upper carbon. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of our improved lamp on line at w of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same, with the casing inclosing regulator and lower carbon-holder in section.

A is the box to contain the mechanism to control the movement of the carbons.

B is the frame of the lamp, and holds the globe and lower carbon, and is insulated at c c from the box A.

O is the clamping device at the bottom of the frame B, for clamping the'lower carbon. It consists of a solid part,D, provided with a conical screw-thread, into which screws'a screwcone, E, having clamping-jaws on the end, and a shank having a milled head or' h'and-wheel," F, extending below the frame. The carbon G passes through the piece E, which it fits very loosely, but may be clamped therein by causing the split ends of the cone to be pressed together by screwing the screw-cone E into the conical socket D. The reverse construction may be used, if desired.

The upper carbon, K, is narrowed at the top,

,, fine copper wires,

and is inserted into the socket of rod J, which works freely through holes I in box A, and is used to allow all of the carbon pencil to be burned. The diameters of the carbon and rod are the same. The carbon K is guided vertically by rollers L, two of which are carried in a frame, L, supported by pin N, and pressed against the carbon by spring 0v The two upper rollers L are directly opposite, and the lower roller L is opposite the regulating-armature. The armature Q is pivoted at 1' to supporting-rod T, and is provided with a pressure-spring, t, and the armature is furnished with a projecting piece, R, the end of which is curved to the radius of the carbon K and rod J. The springt keeps the projection R against the carbon with a gentle pressure, yet allowing it to readily free itself when necessary. A light spring, q, holds the armature down when the magnetsP are demagnetized. However, in our improved construction it is not absolutely necessary. Situated above the armature are electro-magnets P, and located below the same are one or more electro-magnets or shunt-magnets, U. When the currentis passing, the arma ture is poised between the poles of the upper and lower magnets, the upper magnets,P, having the greater strength, as they must support the weight ot' the carbon G and its rod J. The electro-magnets or shunt-magnetsUare wound with very fine wire. The electromagnets P are wound with large wire, one end of which is connected with the position-screw cup Z by wire 6, and the other end of which is secured to the box A. The wire 6 is tapped by wiref, which communicates with the coilof the shuntmagnets U, the other end of which is connected with the frame B by wire it. By this construction a small part of the current is always pass- .ing through the shunt-magnet; hence the armature Q, is continually attracted in both directions, causing the carbon to be balanced and its movements governed by the difference between the varying power of the upper and the power of the lower magnets. The negative Wire is connected with the frame B by the screw-cup Z.

Encircling the upper carbon, K, is a weightfollower, V, which is electrically connected with the carbon by springs d. This follower V is hung from conducting-cord WV, made of very which pass through hole It in box A, and are wound upon the drum M, attached to the lower wheel, L, and carried in frame L. The pin 1 causes the metallic cord to be wound up uniformly upon the drum. A non-conducting cord, on, is also connected to the drum M, and passes over the idlerrollers S S S, and isconnected with the lower carboncap 9- Sbcure'd to the box A is an adjustable spring, X, which may press against the upper carbon, and to the frame 13 is secured an adjustable spring, X, which may press against the lower carbon. Also secured to the bottom of the box A are spring-catches b b, which support the follower V when notrin use.

The operation is as follows: To use the lamp as a traveling light, throw the springs X X around, as indicated in full lines, and disconnect the cord m. The current passing through both upper and lower magnets, the armature is balanced and the current passes down the conducting-cord W to weight-follower V, and is conductedto the carbon by springs 01 near the point or electrode of the carbons, thereby overcoming the great resistance which would be the result of causing the current to pass down the carbon. As the carbon burns down it is lowered to follow the negative electrode of the lower carbon, and as it burns itself the loweringinovementis much increased. If the drum M is one-half the diameter of the wheel L to which it is secured, the follower V will descend one-halfas fast as the carbon descends; but as the upper carbon burns twice as fast as the lower carbon, this will keep the follower always at the same distance from the positive electrodeof the carbon. Should the electrodes be too far apart, the current ceases to traverse the electro-magnets P, but not so in the case of the shunt-magnet U; hence the armature is instantly pulled down, which movement may be accelerated by the spring q, and causes the upper carbon to be forced downward and finally freed, when the voltaic arc is made and the magnets P once more electrified, causing the armature to be raised and become once more balanced. This movement raises the carbon until the proper arc is once more made.

To change the lamp from a traveling light to a center light-the conducting-cord W is disconnected and the followerV shoved up until held by the spring-catches b I). The springs X and X are swung around and rest upon the carbons, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. The cord at is connected with cup 9, and the lowercarbon clamps loosened. N ow, the lower carbon will be raised by the downward movement of the upper carbon, and in the proportion of one to two; hence, as the upper carbon burns twice as fast as the lower carbon, the voltaic arc will always remain in one spot. The current is conducted to the negative carbon by sprin gX, and from the positive carbon to frame B by spring X.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric lamp, the combination of carbon K, with its rod J, friction-roller L, armature Q, provided with proj ectin g piece R, spring T, spring q, electro-magnets P, shunt-magnets U, lower carbon, G, and means to ad'ust and clamp said carbon from the outside, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an electric lamp, the combination of carbon K, with its rod J, friction-roller L, carrying a drum, M, conducting-cord WV, follower V, provided with contactpieces (1 or their equivalent, armature Q, provided with a pro jecting piece, R, spring T, spring q, electromagnets P,

shunt-magnets U, lower carbon, G,

IIO

and means to clamp said carbon in place, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an electric lamp, a conducting-follower in contact with the descending carbon, in combination with mechanism to lower both the carbon and follower in such a manner that as the carbon descends and burns the follower will always be at or about the same distance from the point .of the upper carbon and lower carbon,'substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In an electric lamp, the combination of carbon K, roller L, drum M, follower V, conducting-cord W, and mechanism to regulate the downward movement of said carbon, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an electric lamp, the clamp O for adjusting and clamping the lower carbon wholly from the outside, consisting of the piece D secured to the frame, and provided with a conical screw and cone-piece, E, having a central aperture through which the carbon passes, or its equivalent clamping-ends, and provided with a downwardly-projectin g shank furnished with a milled head or its equivalent, located wholly on the outside of the lamp, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In an electric lamp, the combination of electro-magnetsP in circuitwith carbon s,shuntmagnet U out of circuit with carbons, poised armature Q, provided with projecting piece R, friction-roller L, drum M, conducting-cord W, follower V, carbons K and G, frame B, box A, and clamp U, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention we hereunto set our hands.

HENRY U. SAMPLE. FRANZ RABL.

Witnesses:

R. A. GAVIN, THos. J. HUNT. 

